County refuses toilet paper check

BINGHAMTON, N.Y., March 27 (UPI) -- A Binghamton, N.Y., man said he protested a high water bill by attempting to pay it with a homemade check printed on toilet paper.

Ron Borgna said the Broome County Office of Real Property Tax Services refused to accept his $2,059.66 check -- which would cover the $422.90 bill, late fees and subsequent water and sewer bills -- despite an accompanying bank statement proving that his account contained adequate funds, The Press & Sun Bulletin of Vestal, N.Y., reported Thursday.

Borgna said the September 2006 water bill was four times the amount of his normal bill. His water meter and plumbing were tested in an attempt to discover the cause of the extra charges, but the only problem found was his meter over-registering by 1 percent, within the bounds of city regulations.

The homeowner refused to pay the bill, and the fee was transferred to the county after one year. Borgna said he decided to pay the fine, but the county's refusal to accept his toilet paper check left him considering other creative payment options.

"I don't know where I'm going to get $2,000 in nickels and dimes," he said.